Hey guys, I've been browsing these boards all day and had a quick little question about whey protein. I'm about 6'3 140 pounds and am looking to gain a little muscle and size. I've read good things about whey protein aiding in work-outs and bulking up and I'm planning on buying some in a few days. I'm also a health food/healthy eating nut, so I'm looking to buy a whey protein that is healthy. I'm not so sure if that makes complete sense, but you know how you can make hamburgers at your house and it would be semi-good for you; on the otherhand, you can buy a hamburger at a fast food place and it will be relatively unhealthy? Basically what I'm asking if there is a good brand/store (Southern Californa) for whey protein. Thanks! Hope that made some sense.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by tristeza:And since I'm just starting out with weight lifting, I should wait until I hit a plateau before I start using whey protein huh? Thanks for the help.[/QUOTE]

WTF? No way. Once you plateu with those slow twitch fibers, since I'm assuming you're going to do the basic repetition method that most people do (bleh), protein is not going to help you build any more. Use it now to help you build. Also, it's probably going to take you years to plateu.

This is what I was told by the woman at the health store when I first starting buying protein.

She told me, you can take it before a workout for energy, but not right before because it can fill up your stomache. The most important time for your muscles to get protein is within 30 minutes AFTER a workout. This is when the muscles are broke down and are in the process of beggining to rebuild. In that 30 minutes, the muscle tissues are torn and the protein will reach them the fastest. After 30 minutes they start to close and it's almost a wasted effort.

She also told me, if you are trying to build to take the protein the morning after a workout as well.